At LAX- waiting for the flight home, still riding that post-Gathering high. This is like a powerful drug - my mind is already racing with thoughts of the next one! I've got time and a lot to think about so this may be a bit lengthy.....I want to thank everyone I fought this weekend - you each taught me something. Especially Poi Dog whose willingness to "bring it" and whose huge smile and welcoming attitude has been to me from the start the model for what a Dog Brother should be, and Gung Fu Dog who has really given me respect for an ancient weapon (the spear) and has my mind reeling with thoughts of working on this - as a student of history, that was a special treat. Mongolian Dog - man he is a scary freak of nature when fighting, but has the driest quickest wit and is a completely class act - thank you for the token, it was unnecessary but appreciated. Dog Dayvid, I am enjoying being a witness to your journey - keep at it! Quiet Dog, Seeing Eye Dog - great knife fights, thank you both. Dog Pete - thanks for the lesson in groundwork! Candidate Dog Brother Terry - I feel like we are on this journey together and, like Dog Dayvid, I'm glad I can be a part of it. Dog Joe - that was a fun fight, and again, thank you for the token. C-Mighty Dog - we didn't fight this time but I sure appreciate you being there and your friendship and help with the medical stuff. And I REALLY thank you for the persona that I would never have created myself but I can't imagine fighting without now - the Dr Doom Mask needs a little TLC before the next Gathering. Lastly Guro Crafty and the full Dog Brothers for the promotion. I value my new name and will do my best to represent well. Thank you.

As always the wordless images swirl in my head. Being wordless, writing about them can be rather challenging! So rather simplistically I note that the variety of weaponry at this Gathering may have been the most I have ever seen.

Of course there was plenty of single stick, but we also saw plenty of double stick. I was also very pleased to see that stick & daga seems to have taken root. Furthermore we had (working from memory here so I may well miss a few):

What a great weekend! Thank you all for such an outstanding experience. HD's comments are right on, there were great spirits/vibes on both days of the tribal. I'm going to follow C-Dr Dog's lead by saying thanks to everyone that I fought. Each of my opponents taught me a lot and I am truly thankful to be amongst you all. The experience of the gathering is definitely something that leaves you speechless.

I'm not sure if I was attempting to mimic an agent from "The Matrix" or what, but each swing of Seeing Eye Dog's rattan caught my attention in a major way. It was a lot of speed and power behind those strikes, which got me improvising (ducking) and moving (ducking)...

To everyone I fought: C-Doctor Dog, Pappy Dog, Poi Dog, Sinatra Dog, “Dog” H.M., C-Dog Don…Thank you for pushing me and helping me to grow. To the Dogs in attendance that I did not get to fight (especially “Dog” Pete Juska and C-Mighty Dog) keep a spot open for me on the dance card for next time. To all those who took part in the weekend, thank you for your energy and enthusiasm. We went hard for 2 days, non-stop. Not many people can say that.

And finally to Guro Crafty and Pretty Kitty, thank you for your endless enthusiasm, energy, support, and selflessness as you help to drive us forward to bigger and better things.